After winning the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year award, Boston Celtics star Marcus Smart didn't forget to thank one crucial group that has really pushed him to become better: his haters.

Smart admitted that having those doubters and haters really “inspired” him to improve himself and prove them wrong. Now, he has the DPOY trophy in his résumé, which is proof that he is among the NBA's elite defenders.

“I’ve always said that without those naysayers, the doubters, what we like to call haters, I wouldn’t be able to go out there and do what I do. They inspire me to continue to strive to be the greatest I can be at what I do. So, what I have to say to them is thank you. Keep it up,” the Celtics vet shared, per Michael C. Wright of NBA.com.

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Marcus Smart has always embraced the criticisms thrown against him, and it's clear it has worked wonders for him and the Celtics. The 28-year-old guard leads the league's best defense, and he is properly acknowledged for it.

Of course there is a lot of work to be done for the Celtics to reach their ultimate goal of winning the Larry O'Brien trophy. And so while Smart is getting a lot of love for his latest win, he's surely hoping the haters will keep hating to fuel him even further.

After all, the only way to really shut down the naysayers is through winning the NBA title.